Exports of Peruvian asparagus for the first quarter of 2015 reached US$74.9m, a 6.4 per cent increase on the same period last year, reports Andina.

Giannina Denegri of exporter association Adex said the biggest market was the US, which took 41.3 per cent of the export total. Asparagus is the third top product among non-traditional agricultural exports in Peru after grapes and mangoes, accounting for 10 per cent of total exports. Grapes are Peru’s top non-traditional export (28.7 per cent) followed by mangoes (15.1 per cent).

Even though Asparagus exports fell by 6.6 per cent last year to US$673.4m, Adex noted that shipments are likely to rise this year given the sector’s strong performance over the first quarter.

Asparagus shippers are looking to open up new export markets, particularly in Asia. Carlos Zamorano of Peruvian Asparagus and Vegetable Institute (Ipeh) said China has the potential to become the second biggest destination for Peruvian asparagus after the US.